Southern Mississippi 11/25/23
Nov 27, 2023 16:54:09 GMT -6
buppie05, ghostofdylan, and 4 more like this
Post by TBone on Nov 27, 2023 16:54:09 GMT -6
Using the schedule, injuries or illness as part of the "reason", or more accurately, as an excuse for the team's play is simply weak. Nearly every D1 team has suffered through these things to some extent already this year. If this was the guys' first year playing D1, then maybe you could understand, but the core of this team has been playing D1 ball now for at least a year, if not longer.
Coach talked about Southern Miss being hungry this game. I can't envision many scenarios where I, as an athlete myself, would be more hungry. They've played poorly, if not downright bad for almost the entire season. They've not played good basketball for an entire half of the seven games played, let alone a full game. They're home, playing a solid mid-major in a winnable game. Here's a chance to say we're not what we've shown ourselves to be so far, we are the team the expectations for us this year say we are, and here we are. This team hasn't looked hungry all year! You want an excuse? That is a big part of it. Either coach doesn't know (or isn't pushing) the right buttons to motivate these guys, these guys are satisfied after last year - having proven themselves as largely D1 newcomers to have some success, there is not a leader on the bench to push these guys to be the best they can be or a combination of all of these things.
As good as we were in the second half in this game - we shot 56% from the field and 40% from three, we allowed Southern Miss to shoot 56% and 55%, respectively! They scored 49 points in the second half! It's the 7th time we've given up 40 points in a half in 10 halves of ball against D1 opponents. We finally had scoring output from more than one player with four players in double figures, we scored 84 points, and we still lost. This team flat out stinks at defense, particularly beyond the arc. We're 313th in the nation in field goal percentage allowed (46.9%) and 358th in 3 point field goal percentage allowed. (42.5% - a mere 4 places out of last place, where Detroit resides) Basketball requires effort on both sides of the court, and there is an element that is found in every good defensive team: hunger.
This team better get hungry.
Coach talked about Southern Miss being hungry this game. I can't envision many scenarios where I, as an athlete myself, would be more hungry. They've played poorly, if not downright bad for almost the entire season. They've not played good basketball for an entire half of the seven games played, let alone a full game. They're home, playing a solid mid-major in a winnable game. Here's a chance to say we're not what we've shown ourselves to be so far, we are the team the expectations for us this year say we are, and here we are. This team hasn't looked hungry all year! You want an excuse? That is a big part of it. Either coach doesn't know (or isn't pushing) the right buttons to motivate these guys, these guys are satisfied after last year - having proven themselves as largely D1 newcomers to have some success, there is not a leader on the bench to push these guys to be the best they can be or a combination of all of these things.
As good as we were in the second half in this game - we shot 56% from the field and 40% from three, we allowed Southern Miss to shoot 56% and 55%, respectively! They scored 49 points in the second half! It's the 7th time we've given up 40 points in a half in 10 halves of ball against D1 opponents. We finally had scoring output from more than one player with four players in double figures, we scored 84 points, and we still lost. This team flat out stinks at defense, particularly beyond the arc. We're 313th in the nation in field goal percentage allowed (46.9%) and 358th in 3 point field goal percentage allowed. (42.5% - a mere 4 places out of last place, where Detroit resides) Basketball requires effort on both sides of the court, and there is an element that is found in every good defensive team: hunger.
This team better get hungry.